Feeding apparatus for alimentary paste die



S@ @9 g49 C, AMBRETTE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ALIMENTARY PASTE DIE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 17, 1946 INVENTOR. ywpfd ze, BY

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Swim 69 www c. AMBRETTE FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ALIMENTARY PASTE DIE Filed April 17, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR.

www BY @y Sept @y gg. C, AMBRETTE 2,481,274

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ALIMENTARY PASTE DIE Filed April 17, 1.946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fzfawfeZe, B* @/f W 'Filed April 17, `1946 Spib 69 w49. c. AMBRETTE 2,483,274

FEEDI NG APPARATUS FOR ALIMENTARY PASTE DIE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 STARTI FJG Box STARTING sTARTmq TIMER INVENTOR. WfaJMZreW/e, BY f Patented Sept. 6, 1949 umm-:o srArE-s Parent ofrrl'ce ll'EDIN-"Grn APPARATUS FDRv THEY PSTE DIE Conrad Anilaxette,y Brooklyn, N. Y.A

Application priiE 1"7', 1946', SerialNo. 662,699

3 Claims. (Cl. 10i-14),

This invention; relates toapparatus for produoing alimentari?I paste products, suoli: as spa.- ghetti-, macaroni and like forrnsv thereof; and the!v invention has reference, more particularly, to:y novel apparatus for delivering ali-mentary paste:r to and'y extrudingl it through aforming die means, racking theA extruded paste strings, andi then de livering the racked strings tol drier apparatus, all: iny an aut@matieI c-:ontinumismanner.

The invention. for anoljeob to prov-ide novelV apparatus for extruding alii-neriliary` paste through anA elongated;r die means so asA to. issue the samefrom the latter' in1 linearv rowsoff spaeed strings adapted tox be out away' from the. dief means to provide desiredE string' lengthsthereoi, and then tol autornatieall:v apply the strings;l to1 racking rods; and thereupon automatically oonvey the racked strings toA and? throughdri'er' apparatus.

The apparatus has for another oljeotlt'o pro videl alimenteayy paste production apparatus, ofi the kind above mentioned, ineludingsnovellmeans for delivering and uniferfn'ilyl distributing" alimentary paste t'o and throughouttlie'lengthfl ofi an elongated die means; in suohmanner as to*A assure uniform expressing pressure of the pasteover the entire areafl offv the aperture'd die platek of said` die means, se that the extruded! paste strings will he-of` uniform lengfththroughout the linear rows thereof asextruded from theV diemeans.

The inventionhas for' a further object tolpro"` vide, ineernloinationv with' anelongatedf die' means, havingits extrusion apertures@ arr-anged in two linear rows, an individual paste severing or cut off' mechanism for eaeh row ofi extrusion die apertures; said"l severing; or out oi mechanisms loeing-V subject'vr to ouerdinatedj alter-- nate operation, whereby the respective rows of? issued pastestrings may be alternately det/'achedi from the die means, racked' and` then conveyed? to and throughy drier apparatus.-

Still another object of the invention is to pre--` vide a continuous automatie` alimentar-yf paste production apparatus wherein paste string outeting, racking and conveying operationsfare eoordinated in controlled time@ relaidon.

Other objects, of thisi inveniiom notwat' thisl time. moref partimilarlyfexmmerated, will be.: une derstoud' from` tues following; detailed description of' the: saure.`

Ain illustrative embodnwnt of azliinnenta-ry'pastef produetion. apparatus: according to: this invention., is; shown; im the; aceompamying drawings, which:

Eig. I@ is asideelevational viewfotthe apparatus according to-:thislinventinm FigaZ isfapla-r1i View,l or the: means: for delivering. and; distributing-J alii-- mentaw tortue elongateda means or the apparatus, said View being drawn; on anenlarged scale; andi Figa. 3: is a. lbngitudinal seeti'onall. view,. taken onf` line?, Sedi inl llig.v 21;' 41 isf a front elevatienwli view of! tlie: alnuoniary paste extru sion, cutoff', racking andi convening mechanisms' of' the: apparatus; 5- isf ai iiag-merita-ry trams;-V verse: seetibnal. v ievw on. line 54-5 in'4 Eig.. 4l, andiin partse'lematieally'snawm the' samefshowing. the: culi of@` meohanismswhich; are: coopera tive' witlrl the.` eibngate'd die means. oir the: aps paratus; and ma; 6 inw fragmentary' view, simi,-A l'ar to: that or' Eig; 5,. but.v showing: another: posi:-V t-ion of`ahoutof mechanism Fig. 7i isla; schematic wiring7 diagram, showing; thefmeans whereby the operational-,of tlievario-us'i mechanisimss of trier apparatus; are eoordina-telgY timed and: continile'clf;`

Similar chara'etensvoii reference are: ernployed ini theA hereinabove: .descrined views,Y to inui'oatei corresponding@- parts` Referring to; the: drawings reference char'-` aeter rw indieates a framework' by; which, is:- suppor-ted the die: means, the paste string. cut @iii meansi, andltlie-spase-stuing' racking andi oonveyermeansoil the'. apparatus. Ailixed to the frame-V work, at: #nel top. thereofiis. an elongated'. extrusioni dieA meansioomprising a die. housing. lili which-1 issuitably eonstruotedf tei provide alongitudinally disposed? die ehamlaer |2, i'nthe bot'w tom off which-isf'supported die plate |32 Said'f die plate- I3 is provided` witglV laterally spacedlongitudinal" rows of spaced die' apertures ML. substantially corresponding? in length to the length .of said die chamber l2.'

Means is, provided; for oontnuously delivering, plastic alimenter-.y paste the die z ,zhamloer la under asconstant. pressure oalfeulatedto, forcethevsame: .fmmthelatter through the: rows ofa dief aperturee ik," whereby to.- extrude; from ysaid linear rows: of spared alie mentarnpaste-stsi ready' tebecut ,away from? the: die' means auch tlieunonr racked, Las will; bieeasier/i subsequently more fully described. Said means comprises a suitable dough or paste mixing means I having-a discharge head I6 in which is housed a rotatable feed screw I1. Said feed screw I1 is adapted to continuously discharge plastic dough or paste to and through means for distributing the same through multiple paths to the interior of the die chamber I2 along the entire length thereof, in such manner as to uniformly ll said die chamber, and to maintain therein expressing pressure upon the dough or paste uniformly throughout the length of the die chamber and over the entire area ,of the apertured die plate I3, so that strings of 'the `dough or paste will be extruded from the die apertures I4 at uniform speed and of uniform mass and length at allV points along the longitudinal rows of said apertures I4.

The novel means for distributively delivering the plastic dough or paste to the diechamber L l2, and so as to exert uniform expressing pressure upon the chamber content, comprises a feeder section I8, and a succession of spreader sections connected together in end to end relation between themixer discharge head IB and the die housing II for communication with the die chamber I2 so -as to simultaneously vdeliver the dough or paste into the latter along the entire length thereof. The-,number of .spreader sections and the spreader passage branches thereof may be varied to suit the length of die means to be served. In an illustrative arrangement of the dough or paste delivering means as shown, said feeder'section I8 is internally divided to provide two laterally parallel passages i9 and I9', whereby the stream of dough or paste issuing from the mixing means is separated into two moving streams of equal volume and pressure. Connected with the discharge end of the feeder section I8 is a first spreader section 20 which diverges in width from its point of coupled connection with said feeder section. Said rst spreader section isrprovided with pairs of divergent dough or paste spreader passage branches leading from each feeder passage I9 and I9. The pair of spreader passage branches leading from the feeder passage I9 comprises divergent branches 2| and 22 Y extending through the spreader section at one side thereof, and, simi` larly, a pair of divergent branches 2l and 22 leading from the feeder passage I9 to extend` through the opposite side of the spreader section 2l). The ,outlet ends of said branches are substantially equi-spaced laterally along the discharge end of said spreader section 2li. Since the innermost branches 2I-2I' extend more in the direct line of fiow of dough or paste from the feeder passages I9-I9, the same are of a somewhat smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional areas of the outermost branches 22-22', thus providing comparatively greater restriction and consequent resistance to flow of dough or paste therethrough than is offered by the comparatively larger cross-sectional area of the latter. As a consequence .of this, the flow of dough or paste is somewhat retarded in the branches 2I-2I', whereby to assure diversion of dough or paste for full ow through and over the somewhat greater length of the branches 22-22', and thereby to substantially equalize the ow pressure through all sand branches. Connected -with the discharge end of said first spreader section 20 is a second spreader section 23 which also diverges in Width from its point of coupled connection with said first spreader section. Said second spreader section 23 is pro-A vided with pairs of divergent dough or paste spreader passage branches leading from each branch 2 I -22-2 I '-22' of the first spreader section 29. The pair of branches leading from the rst spreader section branch 2| comprises divergent branches 24 and 25, which extend through the intermediate portion of the spreader section 23 at one side thereof, and, similarly, the pair of branches leading from the first spreader section branch 2l comprises like divergent branches 24 and 25', which extend through the intermediate portion ofthe spreader section 23 at the opposite sidethereof. The pair of branches leading from the first spreader section branch 22 comprises divergent branches 2S and 21, which extend through .one outer side portion of the spreader section'23, and, similarly, the pair of branches leading from the first spreader sec- 22' comprises like divergent branches 26' and 21', which extend through the opposite outer side'portion of said spreader section 23. lSaid several branches of the second spreader section 23 are therefore disposed in ianned out relation, so that ytheir outlet ends are substantially equi-spaced laterally along the dischargeend of the same. As in the case of the rst spreader section 20, the branches of the respective groups of branches 24-25--26-27 and .24'-25-26v21 are progressively increased in cross-sectional area from those of smallest cross-sectionalarea comprising the innermost branches 24--24' to those of greatest cross-sectional area comprising the outermost branches 21-27, so that restriction and resist-- ance to iiow of dough or paste therethrough is greatest with respect to said innermost branches and progressively diminishes with respect to outlying and lengthening branches, reaching a minimum with respect to the longest outermost branches, whereby to assure compensating progressive acceleration of dough or paste proportional to the increase of iiow path length, and .thus to further assure full flow of dough or paste in all branches at substantially equalized and therefore uniform pressure.

The discharge end of said second spreader section 23 is suitably coupled to the die housing II so that its several spreader passage branches are connected respectively in communication with admission ports 28 leading into the die chamber I2, which ports are disposed at substantially equi-spaced longitudinal intervals throughout the length of said die chamber I2 and the die plate I3.

By the described novel distributive delivery of dough or paste to the interior of the die means, the incoming dough or paste exerts a constant and uniform pressure upon the dough 1 or paste content of the die chamber I2 throughout the .entire length thereof, in other words, within the outlying end portions as well as within the intermediate portion thereof. As a consequence of this, constant extruding pressure of the dough or paste will be exerted uniformly over the entire area of the apertured die plate I3, so that the extruded paste strings will be expressed from all die apertures at uniform speed and mass throughout the entire lengths of the rows of die apertures I4.

"l looped over drier rack rods, and thereupon delivered to drier apparatus. Mounted on the re.

gg, specti-ve side members 2-9 off the1 framework Ii; within the lower part .of-l the framework, arel laterally spaced and alignedsynchronously op-l era-ted pastestring` racking conveyors, which are relativelyspaced apart soasto permit therowsoipaste strings issuedx from the die means todescend betweenr therack rodi receiving port-ions: thereof. Each racking` conveyercomprises a drive sprocket 3i)- of-Z relativelyy lar-gediameter, which is affixed ona4 jackshaftv @I journaled in a supporting bearing- 32'; which is attached toa side member 29 of theframework lil'. Mounted within the upper part ofI said'- framework lil, so asv to be upwardly and forwardly.- .oiset from the drive Sprocket 3i!) with which it is to cooperate; is a relatively small carrierJ sprocket 33. Said carriersprocket isfreely rotatable en aL jackshaft- 3ljo-i-irnaledY in a supporting bearing 351 which is attached to a sidemem-ber ofthefraniee work lll. Arranged-to run .ovenandfbetween-the drive sprocket 38 and the carrier sprocket 33- is a con-VoyerA chain- 36. The conveyer chain- 331 is of" suchlength that its upwardly moving op era-tive course moves` throughacurved pathA fromthe drive shaft 31W to the carrier sprocket 33'. Afiixed to the conveyer` chains 3153 at suitably spaced intervals along` the same; are rack rodengaging hooksV 377i Supported in connect-ion with the; framework lc is rack rod delivery chute means 38; the discharge end of which inc-linesdownwardly so as to terminate adjacent tothe rearward sides` of the drive sprockets 3Q andthe conveyorv chains 3 E running thereoverg;y wherebyto hold the lowermost rackrod R- contained inthechut-e means in the path of movement oflapproachin-g-conveyer bornerod carrie-r hooks 3W: so' that said: rackrodmay be picked up* bytheglatter so asto ent-endbetween the conveyor chains, and so as to be carried" on thereby;

The means for driving theV paste string rack rod-loading and conveyer mechanism comprises amain drive shaft 39 which is-jujourimledJ inbear ings irsupportedby the `lower-part;-'cf-*t-h-e framework lll to extendtransversely between theV framework side members 2'9- below the path of movement of loaded rack-rods;v Said maindrive shaft-3401 is driven by an electric motor Hlth-roughsprocket andl chain or other rsuitabletransmissionmechanism 412. Fixed on said; main drive shaft 3eare' driving sprockets 43 for operating drivechains dlr which; runl over* driven sprockets iixedon the respective jack-shafts 3 Ii. Sa-iddriving sprockets 43* and` drivensprockets id-are; of such relative; sizes as to furnish-Va reductionsuitable to obtaina desired-speed ofmovement of thev rack-rodloadi-ng mechanism.

Means are provided for; automaticallycuttingaway,4 at proper times-,the rows of paste strings issued from the die means so as to detach the sam-efrom the die plate lf3;l such means comprisn ing van independent cutting mechanism for eachV row of paste strings issued from the die paste apertures M, each saidicutting mechanism being actuated by its own power-driven `operating mechanism, but in alternated timedlclation-one to the other, and in timed relation tothe operation or the rack rod loading mechanism, as willbe hereiti-after more fully described;

Said cutting mechanisms aresupported'beneath the die housing l I so that their cutter blades may cooperate Withthe, exterior face ofthe anentured' die maisv i3., Suspendedhr hangers 4B below andL transverse toeach` end ofV the die housing Uf are. guide or track rods 4l. One cutting mechanism,

6l e. g. theV forward cutting-mechansmJt, comprises; longitudinally opposed: slideiblocksfl respectively. movable on the forward portions of.` the guideortrack rods lll. Pivotall-y connected. with each slide block 43 is an oscillatablebracket bl'ock. A forwardcutter blade- 5U is aiiik-edby its. ends to and between said bracket block-s 491 to extendlongitudinally along theA forward portion oi? the. die plate I3. Said bracket blocksll!!-y areV spring- 101 urged to uptilted positions whereby' to engagethef cutting edge of the cutter blade ^-with-theund`erface of the die plate i3. Pivotally supported' byfulcruming means 5-I mounted on an adjacent side member 29 at each side ofthe framework are cutter blade operating levers 52, which arepivotally connected' at their upper ends-With the` respective slide blocks 48; The otherr cuttingf mechanism, e. g. the rearward cutting mechanism B, similarly comprises longitudinally opposed slide blocks 48 respectively movable on the rearward portions of the guide or track rods d'T. Pivotally connected with each slider block 48" isf an oscillatable bracket, block 4-9'. A; rearward cutter blade 5o is aiiixed by its endsto and-betweensaid bracket blocks AQ" to extend longitudinally along4 the rearward portion of" the die plate I3; Saidbracket blocks t9 are spring urged, to uptilted positions whereby to engage the cutting edge of' the cutter blade 50 with the under faceof the die plate I3. Pivotally supported by fulcrumingj means 5i mounted onA an adjacentl side member 29 at each side of the framework are cutter-bladeoperating levers 52.', which are pivotally connected at their upper ends withthe respective slide blocks 48.

A compression spring 53" is mounted on each;` guide or track rod #il` between the slide blocksdl and 48,', whereby to yieldably retract said slide blocks, cutter blades and operating levers to normal initialvpositions after actuation ofthecutter blacles-to effect cutting strokes thereof.

The means for actuating the forward cutting; mechanism A, comprises jackshafts 54 respective,- ly journaled in bearings supportedby; the respective side members 29 of; the framework. Fixed'` on each jackshaft 54, for cooperationwith the lower end portion of an adjacent cutter blade operating lever 52, is an actuating cam 55.. Each cam. 55 is provided with a crank pin i'set eccentric to. the axis of rotation of the cam.` Each oscillatabl'e. bracket block i9 is provided witha projecting arm. 5l to which is pivotally connecteda link 58; The lower ends of the links 58 are provided with slots 59'in which the crank pins 56 engage. TheY means 55 for operating the jack shafts 5'4 and, their camsr 55V comprises a driven shaft 60 which isjom'naled in and between the side members 29i at' theback oi the framework. Said*v jack' shafts 54 are each driven from the shaft ed by sprocket' and gear or` 60 othersuitable transmission means Si'. Saiidshaft Bi) is independently driven by, an electric motor B2 through sprocket and' gear. or other suitable transmission means 63'.

Themeans for. actuating the're'arward cutting,

65 mechanism B similarly comprises. jvackhshafts 5'4. respectively journaled' in bearings supportedby the respective side members 29 ofthe framework.

Fixed oneach jack shaft 541 for cooperationwithv the lower end'portion of an.v adjacent cutter-blade operating lever 52", is an actuatingcam Eachcam 55 is provided with a cranky pin 5p" set, eccentric to the axisoirotation'ofthe cam. E'aich oscillatable bracket block 49 is provided* with aprojecting arm 5'I"to whichis pivotally connected a link 58. The lower ends of't'he links are provided with slots 59' in which the crank pins 56 engage. The means for actuating the jack shafts 54 and their cams 55' comprises a driven shaft 64 which is journaled in and between the side members 29 at the back of the framework and spaced from and parallel to the driven shaft 60. Said jack shaftsl 54' are each driven from the shaft 64 by sprocket and gear or other suitable transmission means 65. Said shaft 64 is independently driven by an electric motor 66 through sprocket and gear or other suitable transmission means 67.

Each of the cutting mechanisms A and B, when actuated, operate alike, so that description of the operation of one, as e. g. the cutting mechanism B, will apply equally to the other. In operation therefore the cutting mechanism B functions as follows: Y

. When the cams 55' occupy normal initial positions, the bracket blocks 49' occupy uptilted but retracted positions, whereby the cutter blade 50 is operatively positioned preparatory to a cutting stroke. The uptilted bracket blocks 49 draw upward the links 58', so that the slots 59' of the latter are positioned to embrace by their lower ends the cooperating crank pins 56'. When the motor 66 is started, its power is transmitted to the cams 55', so that the same are rotated to engage the blade operating levers 52 so as to' rock the same in direction to advance the cutter blade 50' along the underface of the die plate I3, and across the adjacent row of apertures I4, whereby to sever the paste strings that have issued from the latter (see Fig. During the cutting stroke of the cutter blade 50', the crank pins 56' will ride upwardly and then downwardly in the slots 59' of the links 58', and consequently will impart no movement to said links. After the cutter blade 50' completes its cutting stroke, the rotating cams 55' will start to withdraw from the operating levers 52', thus permitting the springs 53 to thrust back the slide blocks 48' and thus impart retractive movement to the cutter blade 50. At this time, the crank pins 56' will have descended the slots 59' so as to abut the lower ends thereof, whereupon the continuing rotation of the cams 55 and accompanying downward movement of the crank pins 56 will draw down the links 58 with down swinging effect upon the bracket blocks 49', whereby to down swing and hold down swung the cutter blade 50 away from the underface of the die plate I3 (see Fig. 6), while said blade moves back to and until it resumes normal initial retracted position, and thus completes the cycle of operation of said cutting mechanism B.

The rack rod loading mechanism is intermittently operated in timed relation to emission of paste strings from the die means. The dough or paste is continuously emitted from the rows of di-e plate apertures I4. In the operation of the rack rod loading mechanism, the paste string loading conveyer 36 is brought to rest in position behind the forming forward row of paste strings, which due to the timed alternated operation of the cutting mechanisms A and B is completed in advance of the completion of the rearward row of paste strings. At the proper time, the looping conveyer 36 is started, whereby the rack rod R positioned thereby will be moved forward against said forward row of paste strings. The rack rod R. contacts the paste strings at approximate mid points of the lengths thereof, and as the rod is moved outwardly and upwardly, the strings will be looped thereon. After the rod has been ad- 8, vanced and raised to a predetermined point, the cutting mechanism, operative upon the forward row of paste strings, will be actuated, so as to cut away the latter from the die plate, thus permitting the trailing end portions to drop, thus completing the looping of the strings over the rod so as to load the same thereon. The continuing advance of the conveyer 36 thereupon carries the loaded rod to the discharge and transfer conveyer means hereinafter described, by means of which the loaded rod is delivered to and for movement through drier apparatus. In the meantime, emission of the rearward row of paste strings to proper length is completed, and a second rack rod R, which has been picked up by the conveyer 36, is engaged with said rearward row of paste strings and advanced therewith so as to loop said strings thereover, whereupon at the proper time, the cutting mechanism operative upon said second row of paste strings will be actuated, so as to cut away the trailing end portions thereof from the die plate. The conveyer 36 is continued in operation to bring a succeeding rack rod R into position, whereupon the conveyer is stopped until emission of a succeeding forward row of paste strings is completed, whereafter repetition of the above described cycle of rack rod loading operations occurs.

The above described rack rod loading and related paste string cut off operations are coordinately timed and controlled by electro-mechanical control means, the character of which is schematically illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and which comprises, in connection with associated agencies, a timer |00, a starting or control box IOI, a starting or control box I02, and a starting or control box |03. Said starting or control boxes are connected in a power circuit I04-I05. The motor 4I which drives the rack rod loading mechanism is started, at predetermined time intervals, by the timer |00 acting through the starting or control box IDI, thereby rotating the drive sprockets 30 of the conveyer 36. As said sprockets 30 revolve, a trip pin |06, mounted on one thereof, is moved thereby to engage and close a switch IUI at the proper time, whereby to energize the motor 62 through the starting or control box |02, thus initiating operation of the paste string cutting mechanism A, whereby its cutter blade 50 is caused to effect a cutting stroke cycle. Upon completion of the cutting stroke cycle of cutting mechanism A, a trip pin |08, which revolves with the cam 55, engages and momentarily opens a switch |09, which operates, through said starting or control box |02, to stop the motor 62. As this conveyer sprocket 30 continues to revolve, and as the cycle of operation of cutting mechanism A is completed, said trip pin IUS is advanced to engage and close a switch IIO at the proper time, whereby to energize the motor 66 through the starting or control box E03, thus initiating operation of the paste string cutting mechanism B, whereby its cutter blade 50' is caused to effect a cutting stroke cycle. Upon completion of such cutting stroke cycle, a trip pin III, which revolves with the cam 55', engages and momentarily opens a switch II2, which operates, through the starting or control box |03, to stop the motor 66. As the conveyer sprocket 30 completes its revolution, another trip pin II3 carried thereby engages and momentarily opens a switch I I 4, which operates, through the starting or control box I0 I, to stop the motor 4I which drives the rack loading mechanism, thus completing a cycle of operation of "the'laitter.` Villhe timer lI'UD functions thereafter to repeat said cycles of operation of ,the rack rod loading mechanism at {predetermined intervals, according to .the adjusted `setting of said 'timer device.

Extending from 'the discharge end of -said yrack rod loading conveyer 3B 'is an outgoing discharge `conveyer .means B8, preferably of the sprocket and 'chain type, upon which the loaded rack `rods R are deposited by 'the conveyer 36. "Said fdischarge conveyer means Ais 4driven by the -jack Ashafts '34, and said 'jack sha'fts are in tur-n .driven by chain and sprocket `or other `suitable 'transmission means 'E'9 from 'the jack shafts 3l which drive the sprockets 30 of the conveyer 36. Said transmission means 69 is so designed that the linear speed of said discharge conveyer means 68 somewhat exceeds that of the loading conveyer 36. Said discharge conveyer means leads to a transfer conveyer means 'lll by which the loaded rack rods R are automatically carried from said discharge conveyer means 68, to drier apparatus ll to be automatically moved through the latter and finally discharged therefrom, ready for packaging of the product for distribution; all whereby the operations from mixing of the dough or paste in the mixer l5 to discharge of the finished product at the outlet of the drier apparatus is entirely automatic, without necessity for intermediate handling of the material at any point.

The apparatus, as above described, is primarily adapted to automatically and continuously produce long paste products; means may be included,

however, for optionally producing short paste iz'- products as Well. To the latter end, a short paste extrusion head die means 80 may be interposed between the discharge head i6 of the mixer apparatus I5 and the paste delivery and spreading means leading to the long paste extrusion die .s

housing Il (see Fig. 1). In such case, a rotary cutting means 8l is provided for cooperation with the short paste extrusion die means 80, the same being driven by suitable transmission means B2 operated from the same power by which the mixer apparatus is operated. To permit selective use of said short and long paste producing means, means (not shown) for optionally plugging either the one or the other against flow of dough or paste thereto from the mixer apparatus may be provided.

Various changes can be made in the above described apparatus for automatically and continuously producing alimentary paste products without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter described in the foregoing specication and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a continuous alimentary paste production apparatus, a horizontally disposed die means providing an elongated die chamber, an elongated die plate at the bottom of said chamber, said die plate having extrusion orices adapted to emit paste strings in linearly spaced relation ready to be operated upon by cooperative rack rod loading and string cut of mechanisms, means to continuously feed plastic paste to said die chamber under pressure, and means intermediate said paste feeding means and die chamber for delivering the paste to the latter through progressively multiplying divergent passages having their discharge ends connected in communication 10 with-said :die chamber-at amultiplicit'y of spaced points along .the length "thereof, at Lleast lthe -discharge branches-@of said :passages being lof relativelyand prbgressively increased cross-sectional area :from the'i'n-nermost of fsmallestcross-section,

which -lcommunicate withfthemid Aportion of said die chamber, :to the :outermost of largest crossfsection, which communicate with :the respective `end portions -o'f said :die chamber, said divergent passages being of relatively increasing length -as they diver-ge :from-fthe paste feeding means toward the respective outer end portions of the die chamber, .alliwhereby to keep said chamber lilled with paste undersubstantially uniform extruding 'pressure VAthroiiglfl'o'iit the -l'engtlfi thereof.

2. In a continuous alimentar'yp'aste 'production apparatus, a horizontally disposed die means providing an elongated die chamber, an elongated die plate at the bottom of said chamber, said die plate having extrusion orices aadpted to emit paste strings in linearly spaced relation ready to be operated upon by cooperative rack rod loading and string cut off mechanisms, means to continuously issue a stream of plastic paste under pressure, and means for dividing the paste stream for delivery into the die chamber at a multiplicity of points along the length thereof, said latter means including a feeder means having paste stream dividing passages and spreader means having divergent passages branches leading from each feeder means passage and additional divergent passage branches leading from said first mentioned passage branches, at least said second mentioned divergent passage branches being of relatively and progressively increased cross-sectional area from the innermost of smallest cross-section, which communicate with the mid portion of said die chamber, to the outermost of largest c-ross-section, which communicate with the respective end portions of said die chamber, at least said divergent passage branches of the spreader means being of relatively increasing length as they diverge from the feeder means toward the respective outer end portions of the die chamber, all whereby to keep said chamber lled with paste under substantially uniform extruding pressure throughout the length thereof.

3. In a continuous alimentary paste production apparatus, a horizontally disposed die means providing an elongated die chamber, an elongated die plate at the bottom of said chamber, said die plate having extrusion orifices adapted to emit paste strings in linearly spaced relation ready to be operated upon by cooperative rack rod loading and string cut off mechanisms. means to continuously issue a stream of plastic paste under pressure, and means for dividing the paste stream for delivery into the die chamber at a multiplicity of points along the length thereof, said latter means including a feeder means having paste stream dividing passages, a rst spreader section having divergent passage branches leading from each feeder means passage, a second spreader section having divergent passage branches leading from each first spreader passage branch, the inner passage branches of said rst spreader section being of smaller cross-sectional area and less length than the outer passage branches thereof, and said passage branches of said second spreader section being of relatively and progressively increased cross-sectional area from the innermost of smallest cross-section, which communicate with the mid portion of said die chamber, to the outermost of largest crosssection, which communicate with the respective end portions of said die chamber, said passage branches of said second spreader section being of relatively increasing length as they diverge from the passage branches of said rst spreader section toward the respective outer end portions of the die chamber, all whereby to keep said chamber lled with paste under substantially uniform extruding pressure throughout the length thereof.

CONRAD AMBRETTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

l Number '12 UNITED STATES PATENTS y Name Date Hough Sept. 8, 1896 Weichert Feb. 1, 1898 Wheeler Jan. 13, 1920 Sykora Mar. 14, 1922 ToeWs June 4, 1935 Sim Nov. 30, 1937 Cavagnaro Dec. 28, 1937 De Francisci Dec. 3, 1940 De Francisci Dec. 3, 1940 Spinozz Jan. 19, 1943 De Francisci Mar. 9, 1948 

